Wire-and-picket-fence machine



(No Modei.)

` J. W. MAR-TIN.

WIRE AND PIGKET EENGE MACHINE.

No. 506,826. Patented 00m17.189.v

, Q Q E U", NN

UNITED ySTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME W. MARTIN, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

WIRE-AND-PICKET-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,826, dated October17, 1893.

Application led June 6, 1893. Serial No. 476,780.V (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, JEROME W. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas Clty, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Machin es;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of fence machines inwhich suitable means are provided for twisting the strands of wirebetween which the wooden pickets are held, and the object of theinvention is to Improve this class of machines in the several details ofconstruction whereby greater eectiveness is obtained and a more perfectoperation of the machine is secured and consequently a perfect, strongand durable picket fence is expeditiously constructed. These severalobjects are attained by the machine constructed substantially as shownin the drawings and herein described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawings represents a perspective view of the machineshowing the sprocket-chain in dotted lines; Fig. 2 a detail sectionalview on an enlarged scale of one of the twisting devices and itsconnections; Fig. 8 a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale ofthe tension device.

In the accompanying drawings A and B represent two upright posts towhich the operating parts of the machine are connected, the formerhaving a base or support C, to one end of which is suitably connected bybolt a and nut h, a link D, through which may be driven a stake c intothe ground, said stake being shown in dotted lines. The stake securelyholds the base or support C in position on the ground and to form aconnection between it and the post A, a brace rod E is provided, whichrod at its upper end is connected to an eye-bolt d and at its lower endto an eye-plate e formed with the link D.

The above described means provides a perfect and strong support for thepost and also holds it firmly in position on the ground, the square orrectangular form of the link with the correspondingly formed stakepreventing the base or support from moving laterally.

lo the sides of the post A are suitably secured a plurality ofbearing-plates f for supporting the spools F, said spools having at oneor both ends a flat sided opening or socket g to receive a suitablecrank-handle for turning them. The spools F at one end have ratchets hwith which engage pawls t' pivoted upon the outer side of the plates f,as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The spools F have a short wire ksuitably connected thereto and to the outer ends of the Wires are lsecured tension heads G which are provided upon their upper sides withbuttons Z around which are looped the wires m between which the picketsare held. These wires m extend through the twisting cylinders H whichcylinders are supported in bearing-rings I, said rings being preferably`cast with brackets K for attaching them to the side of the post B. Thetwisting cylinders H have slots n through which the fence-wires extendand also provided which has a suitable crank-handle N for turning it andis supported in a suitable bracket O secured to the post B.

vAny suitable and well known means may be provided for operating thesprocket chain and twisting cylinders, and therefore I do not wish toconfine the invention to any special form of mechanism. The bearingrings I as will be noticed are scalloped on their edges or a portion oftheir edges cut away so as to reduce the frictional surface thereof whencomingin lcontact with the twisting cylinders, thereby rendering thetwistingcylinders more easily rotated. The looping of the wires mover'the buttons Z upon the tension heads G, holds the wires to acertain tension and when the wires are being twisted around the picketsa sudicient slack is left necessary to pro- IOO vide for the twist inthe wires and which is taken up as the wires are twisted. A slidingbar Pis provided which may be slotted its entire length or at intervals toallow the wires m to pass through as shown, which bar is supported onthe post B by suitable hangers fr or by any other preferred means thatwill allow the vertical movement of the bar when the lever R to whichthe bar is pivoted, is depressed. The hand-lever R is pivoted to thepost B and by depressing the lever the slotted bar P is raised whichbrings the narrow portion of the slot in contact with the wires andforces them together while the wires are being twisted, therebyfacilitating the proper twisting of the wires when thetwisting-cylinders are being operated.. The collars or rin gsL aredetachably connected to the twisting cylinders l-I by means of the boltsp so as to admit the ready removal of the cylinders from thebearing-rings I by first removing the collars.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence machine, a plurality of wire twisting devices, consistingof suitable twisting cylinders having slots for the wire to pass,removable rings or collars connected to the cylinders, stationarybearing rings for the cylinders, said rings having scalloped edges,

post, a base or support to which it is connected, a square orrectangular shaped link connected to the base or support to receive astake, a brace-rod connecting therewith and with the post., a pluralityof tension devices connected to the post and consisting of a pluralityof spools, pawls and ratchets, and

tension-heads having buttons thereon, a post,

a plurality of wire twisting devices connected thereto, and a verticalmovable slotted bar for forcing the wires together while being twisted,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my nainein the presence of two witnesses.

JEROME W. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

W. F. JACKSON, H. S. DOWNEY.

